Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan ready to look over options

In the first few days of the signing frenzy, almost all of the headliners of this summer's class of NHL free agents were snatched up.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan was one of those elite free agents attracting attention, but he made himself unavailable to suitors, waiting to negotiate with teams until the Coyotes ownership situation earned some clarity.

After sitting on the sidelines for a week, Doan is expected to begin exploring his options Monday.

"I expect by Tuesday we'll probably start listening to some offers, get an idea of where he kind of fits in the market, and take that next step," said Terry Bross,Doan's agent. "I wouldn't say anything's imminent."

Doan's self-imposed deadline of July 9 coincides with the day the city of Glendale says signatures are due for a potential referendum on prospective buyer Greg Jamison's lease agreement.

Two Glendale residents have been gathering signatures in an attempt to push the lease agreement onto the November ballot.

What the Doan camp hopes to learn Monday is whether enough signatures were gathered and if July 9 will be considered the final deadline for them.

Arizona law says referendum organizers typically have 30 days after an ordinance is passed to turn in signatures, which, in this case, would be Monday. But organizers say because paperwork was unavailable until June 15, they should have until July 16 to turn in signatures.

It's unclear whether the required number of signatures has been reached or if organizers will even submit them Monday to the city.

Bross plans to check in with General Manager Don Maloney this morning to check in on those factors and learn the status of Jamison's bid to purchase the team.

"Pending the outcome of that conversation, it could go one of two ways," Bross said. "I would think if they don't have the signatures and it looks like the Jamison thing is going to go (through), then Don and I would get a little more serious in our dialogue about a new contract.

"If they do have the signatures or something throws a wrench in it and they say we're looking at two months before we can make a decision, I think we have to listen to some other offers."

Since free agency opened on July 1, 11 teams have expressed interest in Doan, but re-signing with the Coyotes has remained his goal.

"There are two or three that he'd take a long hard look at, and it'd break his heart to do so," Bross said.

Maloney has had regular talks with Bross, and the Coyotes are willing to agree to either a one-year deal or a multiyear contract. Neither side has discussed money or terms since before July 1, but both are confident a deal can be reached.

Doan hasn't set a deadline for when he plans to commit to a team. If he opts to explore free agency, Bross isn't sure what the process will entail.

The Coyotes have not braced for the possibility Doan chooses another destination. They hope they never will.

"We haven't even thought about it, haven't looked at it and haven't considered it," Maloney said. "He's still, as far as I'm concerned, going to be a member of the Coyotes."

MacLean update

Coyotes forward Brett MacLean continues to improve after suffering a cardiac emergency last Monday while playing a hockey game in Canada.

"He's up and about, and he's tweeting out a lot of different thank yous to people that helped him through," Maloney said. "Our medical staff is still in touch with his doctors up there, so it sounds like now they're just trying to figure how and why it happened."